Mother Nature Could Push Back Hidden Valley Opening Day

WILDWOOD, MO (KTVI) – The staff at Hidden Valley Ski Resort defied the unseasonably-warm winter to get a few inches of snow on the slopes overnight. But, Mother Nature would push back their opening day.

The resort is ready to show off its $2-million dollar expansion, which was completed just in time for the ski season. From the looks of it Tuesday morning, the resort should have been up and ready to go.

‘We are not going to make this weekend`s opening,’ said general manager Bill Brandes. ‘It is looking like a December 22nd opening, hopefully.’

There wasn`t even a snowflake on any area roadway. But, the snow guns in Wildwood, Missouri had been spraying snow since 2 p.m. Monday. Overnight temperatures sank below the 25-degree threshold for the white stuff to stick. By the next morning, there was over 2 inches of man-made snow on the slopes.

Brandes kept a close eye on weather reports, which predicted a warm-up and rain throughout the week. The general manager constantly smiled and laughed. But, he could not avoid the Ghost of Ski-Season Past.

‘There was one year we opened as early as December 9th,’ he remembered. ‘But, last winter we didn`t open until January 3rd [2012].’

Brandes added surrounding hotels, restaurants and gas stations look to Six Flag visitors for spring and summertime revenue. In the winter, that cash usually comes from Hidden Valley skiers.